Air Florida began operations in 1972 as an intrastate carrier and after deregulation in 1978, it became a certificated airline and started service between Miami and Wasington, D.C. It became an international carrier in 1980 with flights to the Caribbean and Central America and later to Europe. Competition increased from Pan American on their international routes and losses began to mount. The company was unable to meet current obligations, and was forced to file bankruptcy and suspend operation on July 3, 1984. Midway Airlines restarted the airline as Midway Inc. operating as Midway Express and eventually merged into Midway Airlines.